Helicopter



V Aug-7,1945:

E. ADAN I S HELIcbPTER Filed NOV. 27, 1945) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AfTOR/VEV Aug. 7, 1945. E ADAMS 2,381,417

HELICOPTER 7 Filed NOV. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Au .'7,194s

V terial part of this disclosuree taken on the'linB-B of Fig.4.

, HELICOPTER" 7 7 o M Adams, Ne wark, N. J. I

Applioation November 27, 1943, Serial No. 511,907

This invention relates; to new and useful 1 provements in-a helicopter;

I More' specifically, the" invention proposes the constructiorxtof a. helicopter pncvided with over head propellers for lifting "th hack} propeller fo'r -driving t helicopter forward with the 'blades of-the hers-being adjustable in pitch in-unison -or{ relative;to each other in a manner to cooperate to accomplish V steering of the helicopter.

' Still another object '0: the 'invention'proposes the provision of a novel arrangement between the'propeller blades-and the portion of the air craft occupied by the pilotf'whereby the'pilot will have athisfdisposallevers' for accomplishing" .the movement'of the propeller blades.- I

Itisa further objectof this'invention to proe "1 vide a novel connection betweenthe-propcller blades and the levers wherein the levers remain 'n Q ja i and n no wayinterier "with the propellers which"areimounted upon a shaft arranged to be rotated by -the motor." I

- For further comprehension of the invention,

andof theobjects and advantages thereof, ref J erence will be had to" the following description and accompanying drawings, andito the appended claims in which the' various novel-featur'es'of the invention are more-particularly'set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma- .Fig'. 11s a side elevational viewer ahelicopter constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig' 1'.* 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ofapo'rtionofl ig3, V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion oIFig:-3.

"Fig. 5 is an enlarged-'vertical sectional yie'W taken onthe lineS-YS of Fig. 4.9

, Fig.1 6" is: "anenlarged vertical? sectional ,view

' Fig. 'I is an enlarged vertical sectional view takenonthe'line'l'l of Fig. 6." 7 j V '8"is a; partial vertical "sectional view through thehub of one of the'propellers; Fig. 9 is aplan'view similanto'Fig; 2fbut illustratinga rnodiflcation' of the invention. -1 g The helicopter, in accordance with this' -inv'ention, includes a body not any desired-design and construction and whichisprovided-with one or helicopter, and a-rear propeller I2 for driving the 'heiic'opter'in a-forward direction. Each of the propellers is'arranged' to be driven-'by'a'motor YI3. The propeller l2 is mounteddirectly upon more driven overhead propellers Il'for liftingthe with the" the driven shaft, 14 "of the motor l3. The overhead propellers H which are arranged laterally offeach other aremounted upon vertical shafts l5 provided'attheir inner or bottom ends with bevel gears Hi. These "bevelgears l6mesh'with abevel gear'll mounted on the other end of the driven shaft I4. The motor I3is suspended from an interior portion of the helicopter body l0 and is the source of 'energyfordriving all the propellers. I I

Means is provided for controlling the pitch of the propellers H and I2 andthis means is-alike for all thepropellers; Therefore the description of this adjusting'm'eanswill be taken up in detail in regard toone of the propellers, and each of the others is similarly constructed.

- The means for adjusting the pitch of the propellers "I l is characterized by a propeller hub. I8 whichjis' keyed and 'slidably mounted upon its respective driven-propeller shaft. The back pf the propeller hub is provided with a radially ex-' tending flangelS. Each of the blades'20 of the propeller is' provided' with an inwardly extending trunhio'n M-"provide'd-at its end With a plate 22 disposed within'a' opening 23fformed in the hub l8. Bearings 24 are dis'p'osed' between the plate 22 and a portion ofthe opening 23 housing the blade to freely 'rot'a'tivelysupport the blade 20 so that it may be easily turned. An annular rotative member 25 is ro-tatively but non-slidably mounted on the back flangel9; "Thisrotative' but non-slidable mounting-is accomplishedby the provision of ball bearings26 betweenthe adjacent surfaces ofthe flange l9 and the annular member 25. 'The pr0'vision of the bearings 26 perinits the hub I8 and :flange 19 to rotate freely driven-propeller shaft, while the'annular membrzl'rreniains stationary; Y

Meansfis co 'eqt iththe annular member 25 for adjusting the hub 18 in variousflongitug dinal 's'lid positions upon "the driven'propeller shaft. This meanscompris'es a linkfl2'l pivotally attached'a t one end 'by means of a pin 28 to the annular member 25j The link 2'lqinturn con-' nectswith a belll crank 30 whichis pivotally attached to theend of a link 3l 'att ached to asecond bell crank 32. The bell;crank 32 is, conncted with still another link 33 which has its end pivotally' attached to a' vertically pivotallysup- 'portedhandle' 3!: 'Ihe handle 34 is'd spcs'ed at a position withinthe body lflto beeasilyreached I by the pilot. A'suitable brake me'chanism 35 is provided in connection with the handle 34 for holding'it in various pivoted positions to'maintain the hub' l8 in its various adjusted positions upon its driven propeller shaft; 7 r

A wheel 36 is mounted on the driven propeller shaft at a point back of the back flange IQ of the hub l8. The wheel 36 comprises a hub 31 which is pinned to the driven propeller shaft to rotatetherewith. 'A-rim portion 38, making a portion of the wheel 36, is provided with a. pair of oppositely disposed inwardly extended trun-= 3 in turn connected with the ends of a foot lever 62 pivotally supported upon a pin 63 intermediate .of its ends upon the floor of the helicopter body ID. This lever 62 is adapted to be pivoted in one direction or the other by the pilots feet for imparting a pulling and slackening motion upon the links 6| to be transferred to the annular member 42 throulgh the other links and bell crank to cause the annular member 42 and the rim.'portion 38 of thewheel .36 to be pivoted about the vertical trunnion elements 39. A similar motion will be imparted to the rods 44 through its slidable engagement with the bottom flange 19 of the hub l8 to slightly twist the propeller nion elements 39 to universally support the rim portion 38 upon the hub 31.

A second annular member 42 is rotatively supported upon the outer rim portion 38 of the wheel 36.; This rotative supporting of the second annularmember 42 is also accomplished by the provision of ball bearings 36 disposed within races formed in the adjacent faces of the rim portion 38 of the wheel 36 and the second annular member 42. A group of flexible links 44 extend from the face of. the rim portion 38 of therwheel 36 and are slidably extended through passages formed in the back flange IQ of the hubl8, as shown in Fig. 8. The free ends of the links are pivotally connected to one of the edge por tions of the propeller bladesi2ll by means of pins 45. Thus there is one link 44 on the. rimportion 38 of the wheel .36 for each rof the propeller blades 20.

Means is connected 'with the second annular member 42 for tilting the rim portion 38 of the wheel 36 universally about the hub 31 to change the pitch of the blades 2!) independentlypf each other as they rotate about the axis of the driven propeller shaft. -Tl' iis means comprises rods 46 which are connected to diametrically opposite sides of the annular member 42,-preferably at the top and bottomthereof; These links '46 in turn connect with bellcranks 41 connected with links 46 connected with a second group of bell cranks'49r These bell cranks 49 are connected by means of links 50 with portions of a pivotal lever 51 arranged within the helicopter body 18 at the disposal of the pilot. 1 k The lever 5| is pivotally supported. adjacent its bottom upon a pin 52 and the ends of the links 50 are pivotally connected with the lever 5i by means ofpins 53 at points above and belowthe pivot point 52 of the lever 51. Thus when the lever 5| is tilted inone direction or the other certain of thelinks 50 will be pulled while the others are slackened to Itiltlthe rim portion 38 about the horizontal trunnionelement 4|. ,A similar motion will be impartedto the. rods 44 as the rim portion 38 rotate Withinthe annular member 42 and with the driven propeller shaft. The links 50 of the backpropeller 12 are connected with the lever 5|. The links 58 of the overhead propellers H are connected with the links 50 at points 54.

A second set' of links 55 are connected with blades 20.

The linksGl of the topmost propellers II are connected to the ends of an arm 62' fixedly attached to a pin 63 mounted on the top end of the lever 5|. The pin 63 carrying the lever 62' is adapted to be manually turned by thepilot through the medium of a wheel 64 mounted upon the free end of the pin 63. v The manner of operating-the helicopter, in accordance with this invention is as follows:

The pilot is. provided with .the usual controls for operating the motor l3. 7. However, these controls are not shown on the drawings since they form no part of theinvention. The pilot sets the motor l3 in operationv to. rotate the propellers II and I2 to raise the helicopter off the ground and impart a forward motion thereto.

The pitch of the propeller blades 20 may be adjusted in unison relative to each other through the medium of thelevers 34. .This is accomplished by squeezing th handles on the ends of the levers 34 together'torelease the brake mechanisms and free the handles ,to be pivoted.

, Pivoting the handle 34 will ultimately move the links 21 and move the first annular members 25 forwards or rearwards. Since these annular members are rotatively but non-slidably connected with the rear. flanges of the hubs I8, they will similarly slide the hubs upon the driven propeller shafts. The flexible links 4 4 which extend from the rim portions 38 of the wheel 36 will remain stationary and the connection of the blades 20 with these links will cause their pitch to be varied in unison as the hub I8 slides back and forth. upon the driven propeller shaft.

It is also possible to initially adjust the pitch of the propeller blades 20 relative to each other as they rotate about theaxis of the driven propeller shafts. This adjustment is particularly useful when steering the helicopter on. turns. This is accomplished by tilting the second an- .nular members 42, universally about the trunthe horizontally disposed-opposite sides of the- .nion elements 39 and 4| through the medium of the previously described links to similarly tilt the rim portion 38 of thewheel 36. The connection ofthe rim portion 38 with 'the propeller ence numeralsidentify'likeparts in each of the several views' 1 I 1 I I WhiIeI have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that -I do not limit myself to the pre- 2,381,417 V r f cise; constructionshereinfdisclosedand the rotativelymounted on said rim 'portionof said" ms l d tgal iiqha s m difi at en -if ing with'nthe scope ofthe invention as'deflned m t e appende claims;

fHa'vingf-thus described my invention, what I", claim-as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: 7'

' 1. In'a helicopter, driving and steering mecha nism, comprising a driven propeller shaft, g a propeller hub having a back flange, being keyed and mounted on said back flange, means connected wheelfa'fgroup of flexible links connectedfwith 10 slidably mountedon said driven propeller shaft,a pluralityof propeller blades swivelly mounted on said propeller hub for variable pitch adjustments, anannular member rotatively and non-slidably mg anus portion fixedly mounted on said propeller shaft and a rim'portion'universally mount- J ed on said hub portion, a second annular member rotatively and non-slidably mounted on said rim portion of said wheel, a group'of flexible links connected with said rim portion and slidably passing through 'said back flange and connected of said blades in accordance with the tilted posi- I tions of said rim portion, and means connected with said second annular member for tilting said rim portion. 7

2. In a helicopter, driving and steering mechanism, comprising a driven propeller shaft, a propeller hub having a back flange, being keyed and slidably mounted on said driven propeller shaft, a plurality of propeller blades swivelly mounted on said propeller hub forvariable pitch adjustments, an annular member rotatively shaft, a wheel located back of said back flange and having a hub portion fixedly mounted on said propeller shaft and arim portion universally mounted on said hub portion, a second annular with said propeller blades for varying the pitches po s 4, 'In a helicopter, driving and steering mecha-" said'rim portion and slidably passingthrough said ,b'ack flan'ge'and connected with said propeller blades'for varying'the pitches of said'blades'in accordance withfthe tilted positions of said rim portion, and means connected with said second annular member for tilting'said rim portion, each of said annular members being rotatively but non- 'slidablysupported by reason of ball bearings engaged Within races formed partially within their faces and the faces 5 upon which they are supnism, comprising a driven propeller shaft, a pro peller hub having a back flange, being keyed and slidably mounted on said driven propeller shaft, a,

' lades swivelly mounted on plurality of propell said propeller hub for variable pitch adjustments, an"'annular'-m'mber rotatively mounted on said back flange, means'connected with said annular s mounted on said rim portion of said wheel, a

member rotatively mounted on said rim portion] of said wheel, a group of flexible links connected I with said rim portion and slidably passing through said'back flange and connected with said propellerblades for varying the pitches of said blades inaccordance with the tilted positions of said rim portion, and means connected with said second annular member for tilting said rim portion, said rim portion of said wheel being universally mounted by reason of being pivotally supf ported on trunnion elements to an inner rim portion which 'in turn is pivotally supported on trunnion elements arranged at right angles to said,

first mentioned trunnion elements and upon said hub.

3. In a helicopter, driving and steering mechanism, comprising a driven propeller shaft, a propeller hubhaving a back flange, being keyed and slidably mounted on said driven propeller shaft, a. plurality of propeller blades swivelly mounted her to various positions for adjusting said pro peller hub slidably upon said propeller shaft, a wheel located back of said back flange and having a hub portion fixedly mounted on said pro-' peller shaft and a rim portion universailyrmount- 'ed on'said hub portion, a second annular member 0. group of flexible links connected with said rim portion and slidably passing through'said back flange and connected with said propeller blades for varying the pitches of said blades in accordance with the tilted positions of said rim portion, and means connected with said second annular member for tilting said rim portion, said first mentioned means comprising a link pivotally connected with said'flrst mentioned annular memher and said link being connected by intermediate links and bell cranks with pivotally mount ed levers at the disposal of the pilot.

5. In a helicopter, driving and steering mechanism, comprisinga driven propeller shaft, a propeller hub having a back flange, being keyed and slidably mounted on said driven propeller shaft,

.a plurality of propeller blades swivelly mounted on said propeller hub for variable pitch adjustments, an annular member rotatively mounted on said back flange, means connected with said annular member for adjusting said annular member to various positions for adjusting said propeller hub slidably upon said propeller shaft, a wheel ilocated back of said back -flange and-having a hub portion fixedly mounted on said-propeller shaft and a rim portion universally mounted on said hub portion, .a second annular member rotatively mounted on said rim portion of said wheel, a group of flexible links connected with said rim portion and slidably passing through said back flange and connected with said pro-' peller blades for varying the pitches of said blades in accordance with the tilted positions of said rim portion, and means connected with said second annular member for tilting said rim portion, said group of flexible links being characterized by a link for each of said propeller blades.

6. In a helicopter, driving and steering mechanism, comprising a driven propeller shaft, a, propeller h ub having a back flange, being'keyed and slidably mounted on said driven propeller shaft, a plurality of propeller blades swivelly mounted on said propeller hub for variable pitch adjustments, an annular member rotatively mounted on said back flange, means connected with said annular member for adjusting said annular member to various positions for adjusting said propeller hub slidably upon said propeller shaft, a wheel located back of said back flange andhaving a hub portion flxedlvmounted on. said propeller,

shaft and a rim portion universallymounted on said hub portion, a second annular-member rotatively mounted on said rim portion of said wheel, a group of flexible links connected with said rim portion and slidably passingthrough said back flange and connected with said propeller blades for-varying the pitches of said blades in accordance with the tilted positions of said rim portion, and means connected with said second annular member for tilting said rim portion, said latter mentioned means comprising oppositely disposed groups of links connected with said second annular memberand connected by intermediate links and bell cranks with levers at the disposal of the pilot. a

7. In a helicopter, driving and steering mechanism, comprising a driven propeller shaft, a propeller hub having a back flange, being keyed and slidably mounted on said driven propeller shaft, a plurality of propeller blades swivelly mounted on said propeller hub forvariable pitch adjustments, an annular member rotatively mounted on said back'flange, means connected with said annular member for adjusting said annular member to .various positions for adjusting said plO- peller hub slidably upon said propeller shaft, a wheel located back of said back flange and having a hub portion fixedly mounted on said propeller shaft and a rim portion universally mount- 7 ed onsaid hub portion, a second annular member rotatively mounted on said rim portion of said wheel, a group of flexible links connected with said rim portion and slidably passing through said back flange and connected with said propeller blades 'for varying the pitches of said blades in accordance with the tilted positions of said rim portion, and'means connected with said second annular member for tilting said rim portion, said propeller hub being provided for a rear propeller for driving the helicopter in a forward direction and propeller hubs for overhead propellers for raising the helicopter oil the ground.

EUGENE ADAMS. 

